House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 May 1999 (pt 6)

Interstitial Cystitis

Mr. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what publicly funded research is being carried out into the causes of interstitial cystitis; and if he will make a statement. [84970]

Mr. Hutton: A body of international research evidence is published in the world-wide literature and details of work supported by the Department are on the National Research Register in the Library and on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. In addition, the Medical Research Council is funding basic research, including the study of molecules and cells, genetics, infections and immunity, which will inform future research in this area.

In the National Health Service research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS.

We have asked those who manage the priority setting process to ensure that interstitial cystitis is included in consideration of future research priorities.

NHS Trust Mergers

Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS trusts that have (a) been created, (b) merged and (c) been dissolved since 1 April 1998. [85147]

Mr. Denham: The information requested is contained in the table. All of these mergers took effect from 1 April 1999.

Region Trusts established or amended Merged/dissolved or absorbed trusts

Eastern Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust Allington NHS Trust, Mid Anglia Community Health NHS Trust and East Suffolk Community NHS Trust (3 into 1)

Eastern Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust Bedford and Shire Health NHS Trust and South Bedfordshire NHS Trust (2 into 1)

London Ealing Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust and Brent Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust West London NHS Trust, North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, and Riverside Mental Health NHS Trust (3 into 2)

London North West London Hospitals NHS Trust Northwick Park and St. Marks NHS Trust and Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)

London Parkside Health NHS Trust Royal London Homoeopathic NHS Trust and Parkside Health NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption)

London The Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust Wellhouse NHS Trust and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)

London South West London Community NHS Trust Merton and Sutton Community NHS Trust, Wandsworth Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Community Services NHS Trust (3 into 1)

London South London and Maudsley Mental Health NHS Trust and Community Health South London NHS Trust Optimum Mental Health NHS Trust, Bethlem and Maudsley Mental Health NHS Trust, Lambeth Healthcare NHS Trust and Lewisham and Guy's Mental Health NHS Trust (4 into 2)

London The Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust St. Helier NHS Trust and Epsom NHS Trust (2 into 1)

North West North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust Southport and Formby Health Services NHS Trust, Southport and Formby Community NHS Trust and West Lancashire NHS Trust (3 into 2)

Northern and Yorkshire North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust Northumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Durham County Ambulance Service NHS Trust (2 into 1)

Northern and Yorkshire Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust Cleveland Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Humberside Ambulance Service NHS Trust and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (3 into 1)

Northern and Yorkshire North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust and Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust, South Tees Community and Mental Health NHS Trust and North Tees Health NHS Trust (3 into 2)

South East Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust Life Care NHS Trust and Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption)

South East East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust South Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust and Thanet Healthcare NHS Trust (3 into 1)

South West North Bristol NHS Trust Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust and Southmead Health Services NHS Trust (2 into 1)

South West Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust and Trecare NHS Trust (2 into 1)

Trent Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust Fosse Health NHS Trust and Leicestershire Mental Health Services NHS Trust (2 into 1)

Trent Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust and Weston Park Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)

Trent South Lincolnshire Healthcare NHS Trust Mulberry NHS Trust and South Lincolnshire NHS Trust (2 into 1)

Trent East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust Derbyshire Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Nottinghamshire Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Leicestershire Ambulance Services NHS Trust (3 into 1)

Trent Lincoln District Healthcare NHS Trust West Lindsey NHS Trust and Lincoln and District Healthcare NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption). Lincoln and Louth Hospitals NHS Trust has taken on some of the service provision of West Lindsey but are not part of the merger. All staff and assets have transferred to Lincoln District Healthcare

Region	Trusts established or amended	Merged/dissolved or absorbed trusts
Eastern	Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust	Allington NHS Trust, Mid Anglia Community Health NHS Trust and East Suffolk Community NHS Trust (3 into 1)
Eastern	Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust	Bedford and Shire Health NHS Trust and South Bedfordshire NHS Trust (2 into 1)
London	Ealing Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health NHS Trust and Brent Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust	West London NHS Trust, North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, and Riverside Mental Health NHS Trust (3 into 2)
London	North West London Hospitals NHS Trust	Northwick Park and St. Marks NHS Trust and Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)
London	Parkside Health NHS Trust	Royal London Homoeopathic NHS Trust and Parkside Health NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption)
London	The Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust	Wellhouse NHS Trust and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)
London	South West London Community NHS Trust	Merton and Sutton Community NHS Trust, Wandsworth Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Community Services NHS Trust (3 into 1)
London	South London and Maudsley Mental Health NHS Trust and Community Health South London NHS Trust	Optimum Mental Health NHS Trust, Bethlem and Maudsley Mental Health NHS Trust, Lambeth Healthcare NHS Trust and Lewisham and Guy's Mental Health NHS Trust (4 into 2)
London	The Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust	St. Helier NHS Trust and Epsom NHS Trust (2 into 1)
North West	North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust	Southport and Formby Health Services NHS Trust, Southport and Formby Community NHS Trust and West Lancashire NHS Trust (3 into 2)
Northern and Yorkshire	North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust	Northumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Durham County Ambulance Service NHS Trust (2 into 1)
Northern and Yorkshire	Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	Cleveland Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Humberside Ambulance Service NHS Trust and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (3 into 1)
Northern and Yorkshire	North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust and Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust	Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust, South Tees Community and Mental Health NHS Trust and North Tees Health NHS Trust (3 into 2)
South East	Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust	Life Care NHS Trust and Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption)
South East	East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust	South Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust and Thanet Healthcare NHS Trust (3 into 1)
South West	North Bristol NHS Trust	Frenchay Healthcare NHS Trust and Southmead Health Services NHS Trust (2 into 1)
South West	Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust	Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust and Trecare NHS Trust (2 into 1)
Trent	Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust	Fosse Health NHS Trust and Leicestershire Mental Health Services NHS Trust (2 into 1)
Trent	Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust	Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust and Weston Park Hospital NHS Trust (2 into 1)
Trent	South Lincolnshire Healthcare NHS Trust	Mulberry NHS Trust and South Lincolnshire NHS Trust (2 into 1)
Trent	East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust	Derbyshire Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Nottinghamshire Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Leicestershire Ambulance Services NHS Trust (3 into 1)
Trent	Lincoln District Healthcare NHS Trust	West Lindsey NHS Trust and Lincoln and District Healthcare NHS Trust (2 into 1--Absorption). Lincoln and Louth Hospitals NHS Trust has taken on some of the service provision of West Lindsey but are not part of the merger. All staff and assets have transferred to Lincoln District Healthcare

26 May 1999 : Column: 161

26 May 1999 : Column: 163

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many acres of land in the UK were cultivated as trial sites of genetically modified crops in each of the last five years; and how many acres of land will be cultivated as trial sites of GM crops in 1999. [83283]

Mr. Meacher: In 1998, the area cultivated as trial sites of genetically modified crops was approximately 300 hectares. In the current year, the total figure, including the farmscale evaluations, is expected to be about the same. These are approximate figures because consents for releases are granted on the basis of a maximum area that can be grown and companies do not necessarily sow all the area for which they have approval. Figures for earlier years are not available, but were no more than the 1998 levels.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the research commissioned by his Department into the cross-contamination between genetically modified crops and crops that are not genetically modified. [84535]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 17 May 1999]: Yes, all reports from research commissioned by the Government into the cross-pollination of genetically modified (GM) crops and non-GM crops are published. Gene transfer in oilseed rape was considered in my Department's Research Report No.12, Investigation of Feral Oilseed Rape Populations, a copy of which is in the Library. Ongoing research commissioned by MAFF on pollen transfer will be published when the work is complete.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on differences in his policy in respect of GM crops on (a) limited commercial planting and (b) farm- scale trials. [85363]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 25 May 1999]: There are no differences in policy, the growing of all GM crops must be covered by a valid consent issued in accordance with Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Before a consent is granted the applicant must have carried out an assessment of the risks posed to the environment and demonstrated compliance with all aspects of the directive. Those crops planted as part of the farmscale evaluations will in addition be studied for ecological effects in comparison with equivalent non- GM crops.

EC Directive 90/220/EEC

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to propose to his European partners amendments to EC Directive 90/220/EEC. [83261]

Mr. Meacher: The Government are currently negotiating the amendment of Directive 90/220/EEC. The European Commission published its proposal for the amendment of the Directive in February 1998. An orientation debate was held in June 1998 under the United

26 May 1999 : Column: 164

Kingdom Presidency, and detailed negotiations took place in the Council Working Group under the Austrian Presidency in the second half of last year. At the December Environment Council, Ministers agreed that while substantial progress had been made, further detailed negotiations were required to resolve many of the outstanding issues. The German Presidency has indicated it will seek to reach a common position at the June Environment Council.

The position of the Government with regard to the original Commission proposal has been laid out in Explanatory Memorandum 6378/98, submitted to the House of Commons on 23 March 1998. In response to a request from the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, I wrote to the committee on 27 November with details of the Government's priorities in the negotiations. A Scrutiny debate was held in the House of Commons European Standing Committee A on 24 March 1999, and the Government submitted a further Explanatory Memorandum (7138/99) on 30 April following the publication of the Commission's amended proposal taking account of the publication of the European Parliament's Opinion.

The priorities of the Government are to ensure that the revised Directive meets growing public concerns regarding ethical, environmental and social issues and achieves a more transparent regulatory regime. In addition, the Government support many of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament and incorporated into the amended Commission Proposal. In particular, the Government welcome changes to clarify the requirements for the environmental risk assessment, the stronger requirements for public information and consultation, and a new Article on consultation of the Commission's ethical committee.

All of these documents are available in the House of Commons Library.

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